So I work hard to present the human side of my characters while not neglecting the plot.

People with children and people with their own business always pick up a ringing phone.

It means working harder to do the research but I don't really mind - I don't think I have what it takes to chase criminals through back alleys and wade through blood at crime scenes.

In other words, the people who populate my books are more than caricatures.

And life changes. Maybe just a little, maybe a lot. And at some point, it just isn't worth the fight to fix it.

I was editor of my high school literary magazine and a reporter for the school newspaper.

So I work hard to present the human side of my characters while not neglecting the plot.